Barcelona …
Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez could have easily withdrawn from the Spanish Open and everyone would understand but that’s what Seve Ballesteros would have wanted.
Despite the sombre occasion the emotionally drained Spanish pair remained to play all four rounds in Barcelonsa.
Tribute to Seve Ballesteros during third round Spanish Open. (Photo – European Tour)
Bizarrely, Ballesteros’ passing marked the 30th anniversary of his first Spanish Open success on the older El Prat course while the 1995 Spanish Open was the last of his 50 European Tour victories.
The Ballesteros family had informed Olazabal on Thursday night of the severe deterioration in the health of the five-time Majors Champion before making the news public a day later.
However at the completion of his second round, the double Masters winning Olazabal succomb to the enormity of losing his near life-long friend.
Olazabal was doubled over in the scorer’s hut with tears still streaming down his face before being comforted by Jimenez, who had played alongside his compatriot for the opening two rounds.
Each player agreed to speak to the waiting media but with both so overcome emotion they broke off the engagement seconds into the interviews.
Moments before Olazabal and Jimenez would have seen a sign ‘Seve Forever’ on the scoreboard at the back of the 17th green. It seemed to predict the inevitable.
Of course, news spread very quickly with officials arranging the flying of all flags at half mast, and with players, caddies and officials donning black ribbons as a mark of respect for Ballesteros.
Olazabal found himself paired with Colin Montgomerie for the third round with Monty remarking: “The first tee shots were emotional and Jose Maria did well to play well at all today.
“But then Seve would have liked him to play, so he did very well. He did brilliant. He was his brother, really. They were like brothers. So it was a very, very sad for him.”
Those players who had completed their third rounds were asked to gather on the practice range in readiness for a 2.45pm minute’s silence to Ballesteros. Those on course were asked to stand their ground.
Olazabal was the first to arrive on the range and quickly found himself in a line of some 200 players and caddies.
But again the occasion was too much for Olazabal who broke from the gathering. He turned around taking a dozen or so steps and just stared vacantly towards the far end of the range, again with tears streaming down his face.
Jimenez was there again to comfort him and when he did, Olazabal buried his face in Jimenez’s shoulder.
Not since the tearful Stuart Appleby press conference ahead of the 1998 PGA Championship at Sahalee and the scenes a year later at the Tour Championship to honour the memory of Payne Stewart has a golf tournament seemed so unimportant.
The fact Ballesteros passed away during the week of the Spanish Open does seemed remarkable and as former Open Champions Paul Lawrie suggested perhaps that’s also what Ballesteros would have wanted.
“It’s been a strange and sombre week with Saturday being more like a morgue but you get on with it and try and do your job,” said Lawrie.
“However it’s just unbelievable it’s happened this week and for Seve to pass away during a Spanish Open is just amazing.
“But then Seve’s timing was always immaculate.”
